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This 15th edition of the festival will be held on 26 and 27 October in more than 200 buildings in six cities.

Since its first edition in 2010, 48h Open House Barcelona has become the most important architecture festival in the metropolitan area of Barcelona. We could even say that of the national scene, if we take into account its magnitude and desire to democratise culture. In this 15th edition, which will be held on 26 and 27 October in more than 200 buildings, the festival seeks to explore what is really important to the city’s inhabitants.

This year’s aim

Specifically, this year 48h OHB will focus on exploring the seven fundamental characteristics when designing and enjoying a space: luminosity, solidity, location, orientation, functionality, beauty and comfort. All of them are intended to make us reflect on how we want to live and what is important to us in a space. The will that emerges at the end of all this is to achieve an architecture that is appropriate for all people.

In the 2024 edition it will be possible to visit six cities (Barcelona, Badalona, L’Hospitalet de Llobregat, Sant Joan Despí, Vilassar de Dalt and Sitges) in 205 buildings, of which 148 are in Barcelona, there are 12 private homes and 80 of these spaces have never been seen in the programme. There will also be a total of 212 activities.

Some novelties for 2024

New this year, 48h OHB is part of Open House Europe, a project co-funded by the European Commission’s Creative Europe programme that connects 14 festival organisers across Europe.

48h-open-house-bcn-magazine-horse

Poster of the 15th edition of the 48h Open House Barcelona Festival.

Open Petits and Open Kitchen are also back. The first brings together activities for children under 12 years of age in different areas of the cities. The second explores the relationship between architecture and cuisine, allowing for guided visits by chefs and kitchen managers.

The festival will once again be part of Barcelona Design Week and its global initiative to promote goal 18 of the SDGs, which focuses on design as a key element for the present and future of people.

Helena Moreno

Cultural journalist from Barcelona. I have collaborated in journals such as El País and Exit Media. I am interested in art, design, gastronomy and discovering unique places; including hotels.